Netanyahu Tells UN To Pull Out Force From Lebanon

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Israel Shows Defiance To World Ourcry Over Attacks On UN Force In Lebanon

By Raisina Correspondent

New Delhi, October 13: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday reiterated that the United Nations should pull out the peacekeeping force from Lebanon. Netanyahu’s video message came a day after 40 nations condemned Israel’s attacks on the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

“UN Secretary General, it is time to withdraw UNIFIL from Hezbollah bases (in Lebanon),” said Netanyahu in his latest video message. Israel is accusing the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFL) of being human shields to the Hezbollah.

“The IDF has made this request many times and it has been rejected many times, all with the aim of providing a human shield for Hezbollah’s terrorists,” added Netanyahu. The Israeli prime minister signaled that he’s unfazed with a global outcry against bombing of Lebanon.

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“Your refusal to evacuate UNIFIL soldiers makes them hostages of Hezbollah. We are sorry that UNIFIL soldiers were injured but the simple and obvious way to ensure this is simply to remove them from Hezbollah bases where they use you as human shields,” added Netanyahu.

India also provides for as many as 600 personnel to the UNIFL. A joint statement was released by the nations contributing personnel to UNIFL for Israel to stop targeting its bases in Lebanon.

“Mr. Secretary General, remove the UNIFIL forces from danger now. It must be done now and immediately,” said Netanyahu, adding that “European leaders are pushing in the wrong place. Instead of criticizing Israel, they should direct their criticism to Hezbollah, which uses UNIFIL as a human shield”.

“Such actions must stop immediately and should be adequately investigated,” said the joint statement of the UN members. The Polish UN mission initiated the joint statement. It was signed leading UNIFL contributors, including India.

Also Read: US takes guards for Israel ahead of ground incursion in Lebanon

Israel is stepping up attacks in Lebanon. In pursuit of aggressive-defence to eliminate sources of threat, Israel has been bombing parts of South Lebanon.

The US has also urged upon Israel to exercise caution. The US had asked Israel to not stop humanitarian assistance from reaching Lebanon and Gaza.

But Israel remains defiant. Israel has vowed to dismantle the infrastructure of the Hezbollah in Lebanon. The offensives in Lebanon are taking place after Israel’s bombing and ground operations for several months in Gaza in Palestine.

“I have declared UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as persona non grata and barred him from entering Israel due to his failure to condemn Iran’s missile attack on Israel, as well as his antisemitic and anti-Israel conduct,” said Israel’s Foreign Affairs Minister Israel Katz in a post on X.

Katz claimed that “a poll found that 87% of the Israeli public supports this decision. Guterres can continue seeking support from UN member states, but the decision will not change”. Katz posted the comment amid several nations coming together against Israel’s attacks on bases of UNIFL.

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